Poll: The Logician's Law

[000Ronald]

OK, at this point it's only a theory, but I'd like to see what the rest of you think.

Idiots will always seem to outnumber intelligent people. This is because one or two intelligent people can outwit several people with their heads shoved up their ass.

I started thinking about this on the "Should Only Smart People be Allowed To Vote?" thread. I had a lot of thing to say, but most of them were being said by other people (I seem to specifically remember Root_of_all_Evil fighting against this injustice). Seeing that he had it under control, I abstained from arguing [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.75368?page=2#866115], although I did say that It gladdened me that so many people were tearing this idea a new windpipe.

This got me to thinking; had anyone else done this? So now I ask you...have you done this?

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

I voted yes as people here seem more able to make more concise and intelligent arguments than me. Also I can never be bothered arguing.

 

[The Iron Ninja]

No, not really. I tend to want to have my say in pretty much everything.

Edit: I just had a second think about it. I'm probably considered to be one of the idiots that the intelligent ones are suppressing with their wit.

 

[Ultrajoe]

If one person has it under their control, i see it as my duty to bolster the idiots.

 

[olicon]

I'm butting in on this one too, am I not?
If I still have control over myself (which is often not the case when I see stupid arguments are made), then I usually remain quiet unless I have something new to contribute.
For example, I thought the first line to this reply is so damn awesome, I just had to post it. Even if the rest of this long, drawn-out post contribute nothing to the thread.

 

[Molikroth]

If the person who "has it under control", as in, is arguing the viewpoint I support, has said everything I'd have said then sure. Maybe I'll vote if there's a poll and leave. If not I'll add what hasn't be said that I believe.

 

[Combined]

Yes, but only if everything I'd say was said already.

 

[errorfied]

If they have it under control, yes.

Problem is, when you're arguing with idiots, it's usually a case of who shouts loudest and has the most people on their side that wins the argument, rather than the one who is 'right'. So I have joined in to try and balance things out if they should have had it under control, but were too sensible to get drawn into a game of intimidation.

 

[Molikroth]

I've found that regardless of who is obviously "winning" - that is, hasn't yet resorted to argumentum ad hominem - an Internet discussion/debate will often go around in circles as one active proponent of a position leaves and is replaced by another, who will begin to spout the same arguments.

In many discussions the same situation occurs among the same people; as lesser-minded individuals will repeat their original premise over and over again without adding anything.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Depends on my mood at the time.

 

[Daymo]

Yes, if the person i support is making good points. I'll just let them continue the argument themselves and not get involved unless the other person says something really stupid or says something that angers me.

 

[Mstrswrd]

All the time. Just the other day, someone was arguing about voting, the right to vote, etc, and I was going to add my two cents, but one of my dormates had it under control, so I didn't enter the argument. Instead, I just stood there and listened.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

No, not really. I tend to want to have my say in pretty much everything.

Edit: I just had a second think about it. I'm probably considered to be one of the idiots that the intelligent ones are suppressing with their wit.

A) don't worry, (we) provide something to laugh at.
B) We can fight back with crabs.

 

[The Iron Ninja]

No, not really. I tend to want to have my say in pretty much everything.

Edit: I just had a second think about it. I'm probably considered to be one of the idiots that the intelligent ones are suppressing with their wit.

A) don't worry, (we) provide something to laugh at.
B) We can fight back with crabs.

*supresses the need to talk about crabs, as it will most likely derail the thread*

Well I do enjoy the sound of laughter, unless it's some creepy children's laugh that echoes through a mansion at night.

Crabs.

No! Bad Ninja! Leave the thread this instant and think about what you've done!

 

[Larenxis]

All the time (on the forum, real life not so much). I don't like being redundant, so if I've got nothing new to contribute I'll stay out of things. It's tricky enough posting in this thread.

 

[000Ronald]

No, not really. I tend to want to have my say in pretty much everything.

Edit: I just had a second think about it. I'm probably considered to be one of the idiots that the intelligent ones are suppressing with their wit.

Meh, not so much as some people.

Also, you wrote it so that I killed you in the "President Mobius/Ninjas" thread, and that's points in my book.

So yeah...

Apologies Abound.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Yeah, I do. All the time.

 

[Amnestic]

Depends on my mood at the time.

This. Also it depends on the topic. Sometimes I'll be content to sit and read, sometimes I'll pop in to register my support for someone and agree in passing, perhaps dropping a (not-so) witty comment along the way, sometimes I'll set out a full argument. Most of the time I will abstain for fear of mucking up and making myself look (more) stupid

 

[PurpleRain]

I have to agree with Larenxis; if it's on the forums, Yes. I just feel like I'm the guy at the back saying, "Yeah," "You tell him!" "Damn right."

In real life, I tend to get behind people more. "Go man go!"

 

[rossatdi]

The problem with arguing with idiots is that they drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

The only person I hate more than the idiot that's making a stupid point is the pretentious asshole defending the correct position in a dickhole-esque manner.